215.

C. M.

EXETER COLL.

SE

The Baptism of Jesus.

EE, from on high, a light divine
On Jesus' head descend!

And hear the sacred voice from heaven

That bids us all attend.

2 "This is my well-belovéd Son," Proclaimed the voice divine; "Hear him," his heavenly Father said, "For all his words are mine."

3 His mission thus confirmed from heaven, The great Messiah came,

And heavenly wisdom showed to man
In God his Father's name.

4 The path of heavenly peace he showed,
That leads to bliss on high;
Where all his faithful followers here
Shall live, no more to die.

216.

S. M.

NEEDHAM.

BE

Christ, the Light of the World.

EHOLD! the Prince of Peace,
The chosen of the Lord,

God's well-belovéd Son, fulfils
The sure prophetic word.

2 No royal pomp adorns

This King of righteousness:

Meekness and patience, truth and love, Compose his princely dress.

3 The Spirit of the Lord,

In rich abundance shed,
On this great Prophet gently lights,
And rests upon his head.

4 Jesus, the light of men,

His doctrine life imparts;

O, may we feel its quickening power
To warm and glad our hearts!

5 Cheered by its beams, our souls
Shall run the heavenly way;

The path which Christ has marked and trod Will lead to endless day.

217.

L. M.

BOWRING.

Jesus Preaching the Gospel.

OW sweetly flowed the gospel's sound From lips of gentleness and grace, When listening thousands gathered round, And joy and reverence filled the place!

From heaven he came; of heaven he spoke ;
To heaven he led his followers' way;
Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke,
Unveiling an immortal day.

"Come, wanderers, to my Father's home;
Come, all ye weary ones, and rest!"
Yes, sacred teacher, we will come,
Obey thee, love thee, and be blest!

= Decay, then, tenements of dust!
Pillars of earthly pride, decay!
A nobler mansion waits the just,
And Jesus has prepared the way.

218.

L. M.

BUTCHER.

ON

Miracles of Christ.

eyes that never saw the day Christ pours the bright celestial ra And deafened ears, by him unbound, Catch all the harmony of sound.

2 Lameness takes up its bed, and goes Rejoicing in the strength that flows Through every nerve; and, free from pain, Pours forth to God the grateful strain.

3 The shattered mind his word restores, And tunes afresh the mental powers; The dead revive, to life return,

And bid affection cease to mourn.

4 Canst thou, my soul, these wonders trace, And not admire Jehovah's grace?

Canst thou behold thy Prophet's power, And not the God he served adore?

219.

L. M.

RUSSELL.

"That ye through his Poverty might be Rich."

'ER the dark wave of Galilee
'The

Ο

The gloom of twilight gathers fast

And on the waters drearily

Descends the fitful evening blast.

2 The weary bird hath left the air,

And sunk into his sheltered nest;

The wandering beast has sought his lair
And laid him down to welcome rest.

3 Still, near the lake, with weary tread,
Lingers a form of human kind;
And on his lone, unsheltered head
Flows the chill night-damp of the wind.
4 Why seeks he not a home of rest?
Why seeks he not a pillowed bed?
Beasts have their dens, the bird its nest;
He hath not where to lay his head.
5 Such was the lot he freely chose,

To bless, to save the human race;
And through his poverty there flows
A rich, full stream of heavenly grace.

220.

F

C. M.

"Peace! be still!"

MRS. HEMANS.

EAR was within the tossing bark, When stormy winds grew loud, And waves came rolling high and dark, And the tall mast was bowed.

2 And men stood breathless in their dread,
And baffled in their skill;

But One was there, who rose and said
To the wild sea, "Be still!"

3 And the wind ceased; it ceased! that word
Passed through the gloomy sky;
The troubled billows knew their Lord,
And sank beneath his eye.

4 Thou that didst rule the angry hour,
And tame the tempest's mood,—
O, send thy Spirit forth in power
O'er our dark souls to brood!

5 Thou that didst bow the billows' pride,
Thy mandates to fulfil,-

Speak, speak to passion's raging tide,
Speak and say "Peace, be still!"

221.

A

-

L. M. 61.

The Pool of Bethesda.

BARTON.

ROUND Bethesda's healing wave,
Waiting to hear the rustling wing,
Which spoke the angel nigh, who gave
Its virtue to that holy spring,

With patience and with hope endued,
Were seen the gathered multitude.

2 Had they who watched and waited there Been conscious who was passing by, With what unceasing, anxious care

Would they have sought his pitying eye, And craved with fervency of soul

His Power Divine to make them whole !

3 Bethesda's pool has lost its power! No angel, by his glad descent, Dispenses that diviner dower

Which with its healing waters went; But He, whose word surpassed its wave, Is still omnipotent to save.

222.

M

ESSIAH, Lord! who, wont to dwell
In lowly shape and cottage cell,

Didst not refuse a guest to be

At Cana's poor festivity.